I went out Halloween with a much younger friend downtown. Driving there, I noticed she had no coat--just her summery Anne of Green Gables dress (her costume). I asked if she had a coat, and looking out the window, as if to some glamorous future I could not possibly imagine, she said:

"no. I will be tough."

I threw on my puffer when we parked and said, "well, I guess I have this thing." (Luckily the club had plenty of booth space to toss it down.) We walked fast several blocks there, quickly, while she distracted herself by loudly discussing what she thought about each window we passed.

I have noticed a tendency for stylish women to eschew comfort. My uncle's mother wore heels daily until the doctors forced her to stop. A gaggle of young Italian women scamper down the street in mini-dresses with no purses to be seen--where is their money? Their lipstick? Their enzyme capsules for all that marinara sauce?

Cold-climate stuff definitely falls into this category. Mostly women (and men) dress warmly, but on some occasions, sacrifice it all for a more streamlined look.

Do you do this? Would you do this? Have you done this?

I hate the feeling of carrying around a bulky coat on my arm, or stuffing it into a corner. (Coat checks are not always available.) I feel like this situation comes up more than you would think.

A humor post, but also a brain-storming session. How to deal with winter bulk?

Audrey Hepburn never carried a wadded-up fleece jacket. Nor Grace Kelly, nor Joan Crawford. Pictured is Hepburn in a supposed cool climate--those are gloves. Where is her jacket? Someone is indubitably carrying out of frame.